49ers join S.F., Seattle fans in fundraising effort

A lot’s been made of the bitter rivalry between the cities of San Francisco and Seattle — a grudge match that will be contested on the Seahawks’ home field in this Sunday’s NFC Championship Game.

Off the field, however, a group of thoughtful fans have found a way to channel that energy into a fundraising drive, benefiting childrens’ hospitals in both cities.

As SFGate’s Kevin Lynch reported last week (click HERE), a group of 49ers fans raised funds to put up a pro-S.F. billboard on the outskirts of Seattle. But, in an act of kindness, Lynch reported, “the 49ers fan group donated the leftover proceeds from their billboard fund to Seattle Children’s Hospital, a place where Seattle quarterback Russell Wilson volunteers on nearly a weekly basis. … Seahawks fans have, in kind, raised money for UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital in San Francisco.”

It’s a feel-good story, in an otherwise ugly confrontation between fans, which has played out on the Internet and on talk radio in both cities.

Well, here’s an update on the situation: The 49ers, themselves, joined the fray on Thursday, pledging to match all funds raised this week, up to $100,000, on both sides of the fray.

“Despite their differences, 49ers & Seahawks fans are joining forces to raise money for children’s hospitals in the two cities,” the team said on its Facebook page. “The 49ers will match up to a combined $100,000 raised in the efforts this week.”

Here’s more from the Seattle organizers of the fundraising effort:

“A fundraiser started by two Seattle Seahawks fans in response to San Francisco 49ers fans’ plans to purchase billboard advertising space in the Seattle area, The Spirit of the 12th continues to pick up momentum. When 49ers fans donated excess funds from their billboard campaign to Seattle Children’s Hospital, Seahawks fan Christopher Hart had an idea: to donate money, sans billboard, to a children’s hospital in San Francisco. Teaming up with friend and fellow Hawks fan Aaron Managhan, the duo has raised more than $65,000 through a combination of online fundraising, corporate donations and matching donations from an “Anonymous” 49ers fan. In addition, John Howie Restaurants (Seattle area) has donated $5,000 through the site, and Suquamish Clearwater Casino Resort has donated a $5,000 match to Seattle Children’s Hospital.

That anonymous fan agreed to donate up to $100,000 in matching funds to both Seattle Children’s Hospital and UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital, meaning up to $200,000! That also means every dollar donated, thanks to the match, is effectively $3. And now, with the 49ers matching funds this week, that total, and donating power, increases. Managhan is hoping to work with the Seahawks in a similar fashion.

“Our ultimate goal for this was definitely to raise money for kids that direly need it while taking this rivalry in a more positive direction,” Hart said in an interview with The Kitsap Sun. “It doesn’t have to be about bricks, banners or billboards. We have a great power in the ability to do good with the things we are passionate about.”

The fundraiser can be found online at www.gofundme.com/12thSpirit. For additional information, contact Christopher Hart at chart98367@aol.com or by phone at (360) 908-0700, or Aaron Managhan at amanaghan@gmail.com, or by phone at (360) 402-4941.”